Circular  of  Information 
Concerning  The  New 
York  Public  Library 


New  York 
Public  Library 
1916 


Printed  at  The  New  York  Public  Library 


form  p-076  [v-11-16  26m] 


CENTRAL  BUILDING 

THE  CENTRAL  BUILDING,  at  Fifth  Avenue 
and  42nd  Street,  was  built  by  the  City  to  serve 
as  the  centre  of  The  New  York  Public  Library 
system.  It  contains  the  administrative  offices,  the 
main  reference  collection  of  1,200,000  volumes  and 
pamphlets,  a  branch  for  the  home  circulation  of 
books,  a  central  Children's  Room,  the  Travelling 
Libraries  office,  the  Library  for  the  Blind,  and  the 
Library  School. 

The  main  reading  room  and  public  catalogue 
room  are  open  every  day  in  the  year,  holidays  and 
Sundays;  week  days  from  9  a.  m.  to  10  p.  m.,  Sun- 
days from  1  to  10  p.  m. 

The  special  reading  rooms  are,  in  general,  open 
the  same  hours  as  the  main  reading  room,  except 
that  they  are  closed  on  Christmas,  New  Year's  day, 
and  July  4th.    The  Oriental  room  and  the  music 

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room  are  closed  at  6  p.  m.  on  week  days  and  for  the 
entire  day  on  Sundays.  When  special  reading 
rooms  are  closed  the  books  shelved  there  may  be 
consulted  in  the  main  reading  room.  Administra- 
tive offices  are  usually  open  from  9  a.  m.  to  5  p.  m. 
on  week  days.  Full  information  is  given  in  the 
Central  Building  Guide. 

Books  in  the  Central  Building  may  not  be  taken 
out  of  the  building,  except  those  properly  charged 
in  the  Central  Circulation  Room,  Children's  Room, 
and  Library  for  the  Blind. 


BRANCH  LIBRARIES 

THE  circulation  system  of  The  New  York 
Public  Library  covers  the  Boroughs  of  Man- 
hattan, The  Bronx,  and  Richmond.  In  these 
Boroughs  are  forty-four  branch  libraries  for  the 
circulation  of  books  for  home  use.  The  branches, 
with  the  exception  of  the  one  in  the  Central  Build- 

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ing,  are  maintained  by  the  City.  Thirty-seven 
buildings  were  erected  with  funds  given  by  Mr. 
Andrew  Carnegie.  The  branch  collections  number 
from  ten  to  thirty  thousand  books,  the  total  amount- 
ing to  over  one  million  volumes. 

The  branch  libraries  are  operated  by  the 
Circulation  Department  of  The  New  York  Public 
Library.  Each  branch  maintains  an  adult  depart- 
ment with  a  collection  of  books  for  circulation 
among  adult  readers,  a  juvenile  department  with  a 
collection  of  books  for  the  special  use  of  children, 
and  a  reading  room  in  which  are  kept  current 
magazines,  reference  books,  and  in  many  cases 
daily  newspapers. 

All  branches  are  open  every  week  day  from  9 
a.  m.  to  9  p.  m.,  for  the  circulation  of  books. 

"The  Branch  Library  News"  is  a  monthly 
magazine  containing  lists  of  new  books  and  matter 
of  interest  to  all  users  of  the  library.  Copies  may 
be  obtained  free  at  any  branch. 

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HOW  TO  USE  THE  CIRCULATION 
DEPARTMENT 

The  New  York  Public  Library  is  free  to  all 
persons  having  a  home  or  business  address  in  any 
of  the  boroughs  of  the  city  of  New  York.  A  library 
card  will  be  issued  upon  application  at  any  Branch 
Library.  This  card  is  good  at  any  branch  for  a 
period  of  three  years,  and  must  always  be  presented 
when  taking  out,  renewing  or  returning  a  book. 

If  a  card  is  lost,  immediate  notice  must  be 
given  at  the  library,  as  one  week  must  elapse  before 
a  new  one  may  be  issued. 

Adults  may  borrow  at  one  time  six  volumes 
(only  one  of  which  shall  be  a  new  and  popular 
book)  and  a  current  magazine. 

Unless  otherwise  noted  in  each  volume,  books 
may  be  retained  two  weeks,  with  privilege  of  re- 
newal for  a  second  period  of  two  weeks.  For  books 

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kept  over  time  a  fine  of  one  cent  for  each  day  is 
imposed.  If  not  returned  within  a  reasonable  time, 
they  will  be  sent  for  at  the  expense  of  the  borrower. 

Books  may  be  renewed  by  mail  or  telephone, 
if  the  date  when  borrowed,  the  number  of  the  book, 
and  the  number  of  the  borrower's  card  are  given. 

Books  in  the  collection  of  any  branch  are  avail- 
able for  circulation  through  any  other  branch.  Two 
electric  wagons  make  daily  deliveries  at  all  branches 
in  Manhattan  and  The  Bronx. 

All  books  (excepting  fiction)  are  arranged  on 
the  shelves  according  to  subject. 

At  each  branch  is  kept  a  card  catalogue  in 
which  are  listed  alphabetically,  by  author,  title, 
and  subject,  the  books  on  the  shelves.  A  catalogue 
of  all  the  books  in  the  circulation  department  is 
open  to  the  public  on  week  days  from  9  a.  m.  to 
5  p.  m.  in  room  100,  Central  Building. 

Library  assistants  are  always  ready  to  explain 
the  catalogue  or  the  classification. 

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LIST  OF  BRANCH  LIBRARIES  t 


MANHATTAN 
Chatham  Square.*    33  E.  Broadway. 
Seward  Park.*    192  E.  Broadway. 
RiviNGTON  Street,*  61. 
Hamilton  Fish  Park.*    388  E.  Houston  St. 
Hudson  Park.*    66  Leroy  St. 
Bond  Street,  49.    Near  the  Bowery. 
Ottendorfer.    135  Second  Ave.    Near  8th  St. 
Tompkins  Square.*    331  E.  10th  St. 
Jackson  Square.    251  W.  13th  St. 
Epiphany.*    228  E.  23rd  St. 
Muhlenberg.*    209  W.  23rd  St. 
St.  Gabriel's  Park.*    303  E.  36th  St. 
40th  Street,*  457  West. 

Central  Circulation.    42nd  St.  and  Fifth  Ave. 

Cathedral,  123  E.  50th  St. 

Columbus.*    742  10th  Ave.    Near  51st  St. 

58th  Street,*    121  East. 

67th  Street,*  328  East. 

Riverside.*    190  Amsterdam  Ave.    Near  69th  St. 
Webster.*    1465  Ave.  A.    Near  78th  St. 
YoRKViLLE.*    222  E.  79th  St. 

St.  Agnes.*    444  Amsterdam  Ave.    Near  81st  St. 

96TI-I  Street,*  112  East. 

Bloomingdale.    206  W.  100th  St. 

Aguilar.*    174  E.  110th  St. 

115th  Street,*  203  West. 

Harlem  Library.*    9  W.  124th  St. 

125th  Street,*  224  East.  ' 

George  Bruce.    78  Manhattan  St. 

135th  Street,*  103  West. 

Hamilton  Grange.*    503  W.  145th  St. 

Washington  Heights.*  1000  St.  Nicholas  Ave.  Corner  of  160th 
Fort  Washington.*    535  W.  179th  St. 

THE  BRONX 
MoTT  Haven.*    321  E.  140th  St. 
Woodstock.*    759  E.  160th  St. 

Melrose.*    910  Morris  Ave.    Corner  of  162nd  St. 
High  Bridge.*    78  W.  168th  St. 
MoRRisANiA.*    610  E.  169th  St. 

Tremont.*  1866  Washington  Ave.  Corner  of  176th  St. 
Kingsbridge.*    3041  Kingsbridge  Ave.    Near  230th  St. 

RICHMOND 

St.  George.*    5  Central  Ave.    Tompkinsville  P.  O. 
Port  Richmond.*    75  Bennett  St. 
Stapleton.*    132  Canal  St. 
Tottenville.*    7430  Amboy  Road. 


t  The  arrangement  of  branches  is  from  south  to  north 
Manhattan  and  The  Bronx. 

*  Occupying  Carnegie  Buildings. 


